New Association Launched to Support the Internet Governance Forum and
its Essential Role in Addressing Internet Governance Issues

ISTANBUL--(EON: Enhanced Online News)--The Internet Governance Forum Support Association was officially
launched today at its inaugural General Assembly meeting in Istanbul.
The IGF Support Association will support the United Nations Internet
Governance Forum (IGF), which brings people together from all
stakeholder groups, and provides valuable opportunities for discussions
on issues relating to the Internet and its future.

“The collaboration that occurs at the IGF is extremely important to all
of us who are committed to an open, thriving, and accessible Internet”

The launch of the IGF Support Association was held on the eve of the
ninth annual IGF in Istanbul, where governments, civil society, the
private sector and the technical community have convened to discuss best
practice approaches to the global development of the Internet. The IGF
offers an informal setting, free from binding negotiations, for
productive work towards effective Internet policy solutions. The IGF
Support Association will contribute to the United Nations IGF Trust Fund
and support activities such as Internet governance-related capacity
building in developing countries, national and regional IGF initiatives,
and fellowships for participation in IGF meetings at national, regional
and global levels.

The establishment of the IGF Support Association is an initiative
of the Internet Society, with the main objectives of promoting and
supporting the global IGF, as well as the national and regional IGF
initiatives. It was created to:

provide funds to maintain and strengthen the IGF Secretariat and
national and regional IGF initiatives;

seek and promote exchange and collaboration with national and regional
IGF initiatives;

identify new sources of funding and facilitate funding of the IGF;

make contributions to the IGF Trust Fund administered by the United
Nations; and

award fellowships for participation at IGF meetings, including
preparatory meetings.

“The collaboration that occurs at the IGF is extremely important to all
of us who are committed to an open, thriving, and accessible Internet,”
noted Markus Kummer, Internet Society Senior Vice President. “It is
essential that we have a robust and sustainable income stream for the
IGF to continue its growth and progress.”

During the IGF Support Association General Assembly, the following
individuals were elected to the Executive Committee:

Raúl Echeberría, Internet Society

Virat Bhatia, AT&T

Subi Chaturvedi, Media For Change

Marilyn Cade, mCADE

Cheryl Miller, Verizon

Avri Doria, Independent Researcher

Edmon Chung, DotAsia

Tarek Kamel, ICANN

Alice Munyua, CATIA

Chengetai Masango, IGF Secretariat (Non-voting member of Committee)

Raúl Echeberría, newly elected Chair of the IGF Support Association
Executive Committee, commented, “The IGF has proven to be a remarkably
successful forum, yet continues to face challenges of underfunding. The
IGF Support Association will work to remedy this and will serve as a
vital channel for funding from individuals, companies and foundations to
help ensure the IGF remains the primary event for everyone interested in
the Internet and its governance. We are very proud to launch this new
Association.”

The IGF Support Association is based in Geneva, Switzerland and is now
accepting members and donations. For more information, visit http://www.igfsa.org.

About the Internet Governance Forum Support Association

The Internet Governance Forum Support Association is set up to support
the United Nations Internet Governance Forum (IGF). The goal of the IGF
Support Association is to provide stable and sustainable support for the
IGF Secretariat and to fund related activities. For more information,
visit http://www.igfsa.org

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